Powerful photos of the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy around New York City

Hurricane Sandy walloped New York City and the upper Atlantic coast yesterday, and along with leaving a trail of devastation in its wake it brought thousands of incredible photos showing the destructive power of Mother Nature.

We scoured government agency websites and social networks to compile the following images showing life before, during, and after the deadly storm swept through the New York City area.

The MTA's Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was closed at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 29, 2012. This photo taken hours earlier shows the bridge as Hurricane Sandy's winds were building. (Photo: MTA New York City Transit / Vito Sicolo.)

A 180-foot sailboat, the HMS Bounty, sunk off the coast of North Carolina as Hurricane Sandy barreled down on the East Coast. A crew member was found dead and the captain is still missing. (Photo by the U.S. Coast Guard.)